I posted a sceptical message about the al-Qaeda terrorist organization, as portrayed in the media, once before in this discussion, but here goes again, because...
People really should check out this article: Does al-Qaeda exist?
"There is a 'rooted public perception of what al-Qaeda is', says Dolnik, who is currently carrying out research on the Terrorism and Political Violence Programme at the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies in Singapore; but, he says, such perceptions are far from accurate. Dolnik argues that where many imagine that al-Qaeda is 'a super organisation of thousands of super-trained and super-secret members who can be activated any minute', in fact it is better understood as something like a 'global ideology that has not only attracted many smaller regional groups, but has also facilitated the boom of new organisations that embrace this sort of radical and violent thinking'. Dolnik and others believe that, in many ways, the thing we refer to as 'al-Qaeda' is largely a creation of Western officials."
Al-Qaeda might have claimed responsibility, but that alone does not make it correct, especially if we think about what really is the al-Qaeda. Many, if not most, terrorist experts believe that the al-Qaeda as presented in the media is mostly an exaggeration: even the name was first used by Western intelligence agencies. al-Qaeda isn't all powerful: the ideology and different radical Islamist groups exist, but the organization with wide spread terrorist cells etc. as portrayed in the media, probably does not.
"There is a 'rooted public perception of what al-Qaeda is', says Dolnik, who is currently carrying out research on the Terrorism and Political Violence Programme at the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies in Singapore; but, he says, such perceptions are far from accurate. Dolnik argues that where many imagine that al-Qaeda is 'a super organisation of thousands of super-trained and super-secret members who can be activated any minute', in fact it is better understood as something like a 'global ideology that has not only attracted many smaller regional groups, but has also facilitated the boom of new organisations that embrace this sort of radical and violent thinking'. Dolnik and others believe that, in many ways, the thing we refer to as 'al-Qaeda' is largely a creation of Western officials."
This..lunatic claims the AIDs virus was engineered for the sole purpose of destroying the black race.
That particular claim (if it really has been made) is a bit steep but there is a credible theory which claims that AIDS originated from polio vaccines.
The oral polio vaccine theory IMO explains quite a lot and also has evidence to back its claims. It's not just for the tinfoil hat crowd.
"The second theory, the "oral polio vaccine" or "OPV" theory, has it that AIDS began after an experimental OPV that had been cultured in chimpanzee cells was given to nearly a million Africans from the Congo (DRC), Burundi and Rwanda in the latter half of the 1950s. This hypothesis is highly controversial, and is rejected by many medical scientists, (including those who prepared and administered the vaccine). There is concerted opposition to the theory from those who publish and write in Nature and Science, the world's two leading scientific journals. However, despite the fact that many of the aforesaid scientists deny it, this is the theory that is supported by most of the available historical and scientific evidence."
Maybe a bit off-topic but interesting and maybe important as well.
Sorry, but this can't go on forever. Your argument about running out isn't correct either, in fact there has been considerable decline in finding new oil fields, and the Hubbert Peak theory holds true even if technology advances. It only means that we use up the wells faster.
And the real problem isn't that we can't live after the peak oil but what it does to the economy. Recession isn't out of the question.
Even before we have used up the remaining crude oil, there is the problem with peak oil and it's consequences. Economics and the availability of cheap energy will be a greater problem because at the moment our societies are extremely dependant on cheap oil, that is, cheap energy.
Unfortunately this thing uses gas, and according to some estimates "peak oil" is near, which basically means that gas prices might really skyrocket leading into serious economical problems. Under these circumstances I think that these kinds of vehicles don't have a (long term) future unless we come up with some new technologies that aren't oil dependant. And hydrogen isn't as energy efficient as gas.
Oh, what's this "peak oil" I'm talking about? A quote from Wikipedia's "Hubbert peak" entry:
"The Hubbert peak theory, also known as peak oil, is an influential theory concerning the long-term rate of conventional oil and other fossil fuels production and depletion. It predicts that future world oil production will soon reach a peak and then rapidly decline. The actual peak year will only be known after it has passed. Based on available production data, proponents have predicted the peak years to be 1989, 1995, 1995-2000, or, according to one influential group, 2007 for oil and somewhat later for natural gas. This may lead to either minor economic or major catastrophic consequences for the world since modern civilization is dependent on cheap and abundant fossil fuels, especially for transportation. The Hubbert peak theory, while controversial, is increasingly influencing policy makers both within the oil industry and government."
Slashdot Mirror
People should check out this article: Does al-Qaeda exist?
The oral polio vaccine theory of AIDS can explain a lot without any need for outlandish claims.
It also has facts which relly start to look creepy and pretty convincing if you decide to analyze the proponents' arguments.
That particular claim (if it really has been made) is a bit steep but there is a credible theory which claims that AIDS originated from polio vaccines.
The oral polio vaccine theory IMO explains quite a lot and also has evidence to back its claims. It's not just for the tinfoil hat crowd.
More here: Origins of Aids
"The second theory, the "oral polio vaccine" or "OPV" theory, has it that AIDS began after an experimental OPV that had been cultured in chimpanzee cells was given to nearly a million Africans from the Congo (DRC), Burundi and Rwanda in the latter half of the 1950s. This hypothesis is highly controversial, and is rejected by many medical scientists, (including those who prepared and administered the vaccine). There is concerted opposition to the theory from those who publish and write in Nature and Science, the world's two leading scientific journals. However, despite the fact that many of the aforesaid scientists deny it, this is the theory that is supported by most of the available historical and scientific evidence."
Maybe a bit off-topic but interesting and maybe important as well.
And the real problem isn't that we can't live after the peak oil but what it does to the economy. Recession isn't out of the question.
BTW, The Guardian recently had a nice article about the issues: The end of oil is closer than you think.
Even before we have used up the remaining crude oil, there is the problem with peak oil and it's consequences. Economics and the availability of cheap energy will be a greater problem because at the moment our societies are extremely dependant on cheap oil, that is, cheap energy.
Oh, what's this "peak oil" I'm talking about? A quote from Wikipedia's "Hubbert peak" entry:
"The Hubbert peak theory, also known as peak oil, is an influential theory concerning the long-term rate of conventional oil and other fossil fuels production and depletion. It predicts that future world oil production will soon reach a peak and then rapidly decline. The actual peak year will only be known after it has passed. Based on available production data, proponents have predicted the peak years to be 1989, 1995, 1995-2000, or, according to one influential group, 2007 for oil and somewhat later for natural gas. This may lead to either minor economic or major catastrophic consequences for the world since modern civilization is dependent on cheap and abundant fossil fuels, especially for transportation. The Hubbert peak theory, while controversial, is increasingly influencing policy makers both within the oil industry and government."